New Miniature Show - Snow Goose Gallery - Bethlehem PA

I am excited to have been invited to participate in the Twenty First Annual Invitational Miniature Art Exhibition at the Snow Goose Gallery, 470 Main Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania! (map)  There are 66 top miniature artists in the show and wow, it's such an honor to be included!  Because of recent family responsibilities, I have had a few major interruptions in my creative time.  Therefore, I didn't think I would be able to participate.  Also, my inventory of artwork was very low and I hadn't enough time to create any new pieces.  When I found out that another show I usually participate in was cancelled this year, it was the perfect opportunity to send that work, along with two earlier works to Snow Goose Galley!  Sometimes things just work out!!
 

Above, my four submissions in the show (l to r) 

A Touch of Autumn, Gold and Glory, 
Afghan Kitty and More Salmon, Please.

Snow Goose Gallery 
Located in the heart of Historic Bethlehem, PA

the art of the miniature xxi

The Twenty First Invitational Exhibition of Fine Art Miniatures from Around the World

May 5- June 16, 2013
Collectors' Preview: Saturday, May 4, 5- 8 pm

Opening Reception: Sunday, May 5, 1- 5 pm
Enjoy the music of Brian Bortz (bass)
and Lou Czechowski (keyboard)

with hors d'oeuvres by The Mint Gastropub!

Afghan Kitty  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

More Salmon, Please  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

Gold and Glory  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

A Touch of Autumn  © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Polymin  2 1/8" x 3 1/4" 

The opening sounds like great fun!  I wish I was able to see this one in person.   Okay, I admit, I'd love to see them all in person!  If you are anywhere near Bethlehem, PA be sure to make the Snow Goose Gallery a visit.  You will be happy you did!  The work will also be up on the Snow Goose Gallery's website starting on the opening weekend, May, 4th until the end of the show.  The work will be available for purchase as well.  The only problem, will be, which ones to choose!  All beautiful jewels, they'd make the perfect gift for MOM!  As always, thank you for taking the time to read about my work.    

Work juried in the 34th Annual Arts of the Terrace 2012

I'm happy to announce that my two drawings, The Wood Nymph and Snail Tales, (from the series, Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities) and my four miniatures, Gold and Glory, Keeping Watch, Undaunted, and You Too Shall Have Wings, have been juried into the 34th Annual Arts of the Terrace at Mountlake Terrace. The show will kick off on September 28th, with the Artists and Patrons Preview from 7 to 9 pm with the Awards Ceremony at 7:30. Then, on September 29th through October 7th, 2012 the show is open to the public, Monday to Thursday, 12:00 to 7:00 pm, Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm,  and Sunday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The Wood Nymph  © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 8 1/2" x 8"

Snail Tales  © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 6" x 6"
  

Gold and Glory ©Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Art Board 2" x 2"

Keeping Watch  ©Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film  3 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Undaunted © Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Illustration Board 2" x 2"

You Too Shall Have Wings © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"

The exhibit takes place at the Mountlake Terrace Library Complex, (map), 23300 58th Avenue W., Mountlake Terrace, WA. I really like this show and it is always a fun reception. Come enjoy painting, prints, calligraphy, drawings, miniatures, photography and 3-dimensional works by top local and regional artists. I look forward to another exciting venue to exhibit my work. I have several aritist friends in this show, so it's going to be a fun time with great art viewing. All work is for sale, so come on out and support your local artist!!

55th Annual Edmonds Arts Festival Work Accepted

Good news this morning via email for the 55th Annual Edmonds Arts Festival!  My two drawings and four miniatures I submitted for the show were accepted!  Woo Hoo!  Now that's the way to start a Monday morning!

Afghan Kitty © Barbara A. Freeman, M.A.A.

Acrylic on Illustration Board  2" x 2 "

Peek-a-Boo, © Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Claybord, 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

Gold and Glory ©Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Art Board 2" x 2"

You Too Shall Have Wings © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"

My four works juried in the Miniatures Category are, Afghan Kitty, Peek-A-Boo, Gold and Glory, and You Too Shall Have Wings. The two works juried in the Drawing Category, First Encounter and The Wood Nymph are both from the series, Wood Nymphs and Other Curiosities.

  First Encounter  © Barbara A. Freeman
Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 8 1/2" x 8"

The Wood Nymph  © Barbara A. Freeman

Graphite and Mixed Media on Film 8 1/2" x 8"

The Edmonds Arts Festival is one of the longest running in the Northwest, and a great time for the whole family. The Juried Art Show will be inside the Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main Street, Edmonds,WA (map here). In addition to the indoor juried show, there is also the outdoor Arts Festival with food, music and artists' booths on the lawn. This fun festival takes place on Fathers' Day weekend, June 15th through the 17th.  I'll be adding more news about the festival as it draws nearer, so mark your calendars for this fun filled art weekend in beautiful Edmonds, WA!

"Catchin Some Rays" - Second Place Award - MPSGS

Entries Accepted in the
2011 Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society's Exhibit

We just got back from a ten day parent visit in Indiana on Tuesday.  While opening all the mail I was happy to find a nice notice saying all three of my entries were accepted in the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society (MPSGS) of Washington D. C. for their upcoming show in November.  This was happy news indeed!  However, this morning when I started to post the news on this blog, I opened the MPSGS web page for their link and saw that they had the winners up on their website.  Imagine my surprise when I scrolled down and saw that my work, Catchin' Some Rays was awarded Second Place in the Birds and Animals Category!!  I was really doing the happy dance on this one!  This is such an honor for me!

Second Place Award - Birds and Animals

Catchin' Some Rays © Barbara A. Freeman
Acrylic on Gessobord  3 5/8" x 3 5/8"

Gold and Glory ©Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Art Board 2" x 2"

Traveling the Slow Road © Barbara A. Freeman 

Acrylic on Masonite, 2 7/8" x 3 3/4"

My three works,  Catchin' Some Rays,  Gold and Glory and, Traveling the Slow Road will be in the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society's 78th Annual International Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature.  The show is held in The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD.  They are open, Weekdays 10-4 • Wed. 10-9 • Sat. 10-3 (closed Sun. & holidays).  The Exhibition Opening is Sunday, November 20th, 2011, 12:30 to 2:30.  The show runs November 21st through December 30th 2011.  If you are in the area, this is a beautiful venue and a show not to miss.  These tiny treasures make a great holiday gift!

I know I have been quiet here, mostly due to traveling and also getting work completed and then shipped or delivered for the autumn and winter shows.  I have been working on more in the wood nymph series, (inspired by the wood nymph butterfly) two in graphite/mixed media and one acrylic painting.  All three will be small works, 6" x 6",  not miniature, so I'll have three new works to show soon!  I am so happy to be back working in my studio!  As always, thanks for taking the time to read about my work, and Happy Autumn!

2011 Seaside Gallery Miniature Show

(L to R) Gold and Glory, Always Illuminated and Bright-eyed and Bushy-tailed
© Barbara A. Freeman

Once again, I am participating in Seaside Gallery's 20th Annual International Miniature Art Show in Nags Head, North Carolina. This great show is a favorite of mine. I love the way they handle the artists' work and their presentation of the entire show online. They are a very organized gallery. I am notified by email when my work arrives along with a list of the work, each given a number. I was always impressed with the way they presented the work in their online gallery, but now they have a new web site and it's even better! Not only can you click on the work and it will enlarge, but if you click on the details, it tells you the artist's name and where they're from, and also shows a thumbnail of the work in it's frame. When you click on the thumbnail, that view will also enlarge. The clarity of the image is perfect AND you can put it in your cart and buy it online! I shipped my work with Clip-N-Ship, USPS on Monday, got conformation that it was received today, Wednesday and a few hours later, it's up on their website! Click on Always Illuminated, Bright-eyed and Bushy-tailed or Gold and Glory to see the work on Seaside's online gallery. You can see all the work in this fabulous miniature show HERE. Thanks Seaside!

Seaside Art Gallery is located in the beautiful Outer Banks of Nags Head, North Carolina. This is their 50th Anniversary of being in this location. The show runs from April 30th through June 4th, 2011, however, the exhibition starts when the work is received. There are approximately 600 works by artists from all over the world and it is one of the top 5th national miniature shows! There will be an awards reception on Saturday May 28th from 7 to 9PM. Wish I could be there! Hope if you are in the area, you will go see this great show!

Work Juried in Miniature Art Society of Florida's 2011 Exhibit

Once again I am happy to report that I have had all five of my miniatures juried into the Miniature Art Society of Florida's, 36th Annual International Miniature Art Show. They are, starting at the top and going clockwise, Late Bloomer, Gold and Glory, The Silent Ones, "Peek A Boo", and in the center, Traveling the Slow Road.

2011 Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF) Entries
© Barbara A. Freeman

The 36th Annual International Miniature Art Show runs from January 9th, through January 30th, 2011 at the Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, FL. For more information on exhibition dates, and times, please visit the Miniature Art Society of Florida's website, click on "Annual Exhibition", then scroll down for the 2011 schedule which includes a listing of places to stay. This exhibit is the largest showing of fine art miniatures in the USA and is always well attended. I'll have more to say on this fine exhibit as the dates get closer. Meanwhile, I'll be announcing soon, the work that I'll have in this year's Miniature Masterpieces and More Show in Bothell, WA. Check back soon and thanks for taking the time to read this. Happy Thanksgiving!

Gold and Glory, New Acrylic Painting in Miniature

This work is another recent miniature I've done in acrylic. It's a painting that I'll submit to one of the upcoming miniature art society shows*. It was inspired by the small country church, The Little White Church on the Hill.

I saw a peek of this church as we were driving by and had to stop to photograph it. I love our drives in the country, this one was on the Pioneer Hwy, close to the town of Silvana, WA. It's near the bridge overlooking the scenic Stillaguamish River Valley. The Little White Church on the Hill is an historic site completed in 1898 and is listed on the Washington State Register of Historic Places.

Gold and Glory ©Barbara A. Freeman

Acrylic on Art Board 2" x 2"

It was in late autumn and the trees had already lost most of their color. I didn't have as much information in the photograph to work with as I would have liked. I decided to give the tree colors a touch of autumn gold. It worked well with the whites, bathing them in a golden glow. I tried two different frame styles on it and I think the one above is the best choice, more delicate. It works well with the theme of Gold and Glory.


In the above photo you can see where I started the painting by covering the entire surface with a blue wash to tint the illustration board. Then I built up the layers with thin applications of color. On the upper right side next to the first tree you can see the color of the first blue layer. This helped me to lay in the whites of the church and the blue was a great contrast to the orange. I painted the roof and shadows with tints of blues and lavender. Actually, this piece is filled with complementary colors. I also used a bit of metallic gold paint on some of the trees. The bell in the tower was a real challenge, it was so tiny! I decided to mat it in a smaller format to create a more pleasing composition.

I selected this frame and the first one above as possibilities for the finished piece. I think the first one is the better choice, more delicate and the yellow gold is a better match. Sorry, as you can see the first gold framed work is not very straight. I'll post a better photo of the final matted and framed work at a later date. As always, thank you for taking the time to read about my work. Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

*I am in the process of putting the final touches on my work and will be shipping them out soon to the two Miniature Art Society Exhibits coming up, the Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington DC, (MPSGS) and the Miniature Art Society of Florida, (MASF).